IIT Bombay suspends dean's deanship after student suicide; leftist activism alleged

IIT Bombay Director Professor Shireesh Kedare suspended Professor Suryanarayana Doolla's deanship with immediate effect on Monday, September 21. The decision followed a wave of protests after second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode died by suicide in his hostel room on September 18, reportedly after being caught during an examination by Professor Doolla.

Sahil's parents subsequently alleged that Professor Doolla had mentally harassed their son and used casteist language against him for three months, claims that sparked widespread campus demonstrations. The deanship suspension fulfilled one of eighteen demands outlined in a charter signed by the Director.

The source report suggests that leftist student activists have mobilized around the incident to advance caste-politics-focused activism on campus, though the exact nature and scope of this alleged mobilization remains unclear from available details.